There
are so many good papers available now it is hard to decide which
ones
to use. It is too expensive to buy and test them all. To help
make some sense of it I have tested a number of
popular papers and have compiled a list of them here with brief
descriptions, in the hope that it will be of some help in making a decision.

Notes:1) This is not a complete list of all papers available,
just matte papers that I have tried.

2) My
observations and comments
are based upon these test images

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1

2

which were printed on each paper using the Black Only printing technique with Eboni ink.
Using a single black ink necessitates using different papers to achieve
various tones in the warm-cool scale. Different papers render Eboni in
different tones, and the paper color itself affects the final result.
So these tests and comments place strong emphasis on the paper and ink
colors and how they work together.

This is not a
scientific study, but merely my own observations and impressions, so please
don't treat this as the final truth. It is just a general guide to
provide some idea of what these papers are like.

3) The
Grading System - These papers are graded by Dmax and Ink and Paper colors.
A warmer paper color does not always produce a warmer ink color.
There are some interesting cross-overs which make the choice of papers more
complex and interesting (one reader commented that
reading this was like going to a wine tasting party). So a key component in any paper review must
be these colors. The test prints can
be distinctly sorted by paper color into seven
shades of white, by ink color into seven shades of black, and by Dmax as
measured by a colorimeter (thanks to Steve Karafyllakis for doing the
readings.

Note: Not
every image needs eye-popping Dmax. Other properties, such as
contrast, tone, and the ink/paper color relationship are equally important.
A paper shouldn't be dismissed just because it doesn't have the highest Dmax
rating.

Dmax - In
this group of papers the dmax ranges from 1.56 to 1.72.
I find that 1.58 is the minimum acceptable for images where dmax is not a
major factor (such as higher key images with small amounts of black).
For images where dmax is important, 1.65 or greater is necessary. From
my own experience over time with a variety of papers, inks and images,
I grade dmax values like this:

Note: Variable tone inks allow us to get a range of tones
from warm to cool. Since most of them use predominantly carbon-based
inks with color pigments added only as toners, these
papers will influence these inks toward the tones described here.
So while not completely relevant for a variable tone system, these ink color
reports can still be useful. For example, if you want to make a cold
tone print, using a warm tone paper will require a greater amount of cool toner.
This can make a visible difference, both in overall coloration
(bluish/greenish/magenta tints will be visible in certain zones) and the
crossover effect (mismatch between ink and paper colors) caused by the
warmer paper showing in the highlights. Starting
with a cold tone paper can reduce the amount of toner required. The same is true for warm tone prints.
Printing warm on a cool paper will introduce more warm toners. The best
results are obtained when using a paper that is as close as possible to the
desired tone to begin with.

4) Any comments
about using adjustment curves for contrast or density are based on the idea that an
image is worked up to its final state using EEM as proof paper. EEM
has excellent dmax with contrast and density that are middle of the road
compared to most matte papers, so being inexpensive and readily available it
is a great proof paper. With the proof print as a model, an
adjustment curve may have to be applied to the image when printing on other
papers in order to get a final print that matches the proof.

5)
The papers are listed below in a Contents chart grouped by manufacturer,
with links to comments below.

There are many formulas for coatings and,
happily for us, they render carbon inks in various tones ranging from
neutral black to very warm. Eboni ink in particular is rendered in a
wide range of beautiful tones. Papers also vary in texture, contrast, and
how they render shadow separation and highlights, the effects of which vary
from one image to another. I have found that there is not just one
paper that is suitable for all images. After a proof is finished, I make
a small print on several papers to decide which will be used for the final
prints. I always look forward to that moment because it is a peak part
of the creative experience, when all the hard work is about to bear fruit.
I am often surprised at the winner.

Condor BW has the look of a
cold toned silver print. It has a hint of magenta which makes it resemble lightly
selenium toned Oriental Seagull. Very good DMax. Contrast is
different than EEM and usually requires an adjustment curve to match the
proof. Being 2-sided makes it more economical for reusing work
prints. One side has
a bit more texture than the other. Some flaking occurs so it
should be firmly wiped and brushed. This paper
grows on you. Highly recommended for Eboni-based printing.

Peregrine (used to be called Merlin) Smooth has some distinct
features that set it apart. First, its ink color
with Eboni is cool, giving us another paper that doesn't have the
typical brown look of so many inkjet prints. Also, the paper color
is medium warm, which adds warmer highlights to the cool blacks.
This avoids the sometimes harsh look of the cold highlights we get with
Condor. This is one of the "crossover" papers where ink color
doesn't closely follow paper color.

Note: Peregrine Smooth does not have same long straight line portion
of the contrast curve as the original Merlin Smooth, and therefore does
not have the same "magic" for mid-tones as the original, as was
originally reported here. It is still a very fine paper for Eboni-based
printing.

Because it's contrast is different than EEM, an adjustment curve is
usually needed to match the proof. Flaking can vary widely from
one batch to another, so take the usual precautions. Density also
can vary among batches, so an adjustment to the curve may be needed. It also
can have a strong curl if your batch comes from the center of a master
roll.
Peregrine Smooth is significantly different from the mass of other papers out there
and in spite of the above issues is worth a look.

A nice surprise
in a low cost paper. The
ink color is nearly identical to PR. The lower contrast needs a boost to
match the proof. The Dmax is lower, but test prints from image #1
are nearly indistinguishable. However, the Dmax difference does show clearly in test print #2 with
its large area of solid black. This is a beautiful
paper and does an excellent job in shadow separation.. Paper color
is a bit cooler than PR but with PR's ink color, a nice combination. Minimal flaking,
but I always do a firm wipe and brushing.

Velvet Fine Art is a beautiful
textured paper with excellent Dmax, producing prints with
a rich
depth.
Similar to White Velvet but a bit cooler. This competes with
PhotoRag as one of the more popular papers. Note: April, 2010 -
Epson's Hot Press Natural now offers a non-OBA paper with Dmax
equal to the highest Dmax OBA papers. It is not rated here because
I am not currently testing with Eboni based inks. However, Paul
Roark has spoken highly of it with his Eboni ink sets and it's
definitely worth a look. Details on the paper can be seen in the
K3 section of this article.

Merlin Natural has the same density and very close to the same
contrast and nice "glow" as Peregrine Smooth, another favorite paper.
I find that I can print an image on both papers without any adjustments
needed. A very handsome paper.

A good 2-sided paper, but
bears no resemblance to the cold tone Condor BW. This paper is
quite warm and competes with Premier Art Hot Press, the only other
2-sided paper of this class. Compared to Hot Press, this does not
have quite the depth and richness, has less Dmax, and is not as bright.
It has a slightly cooler paper color (Hot Press is W6). Has a very
nice balanced look.

One of four Hawk Mountain
papers bearing the Merlin name, this is a more traditional looking paper
(does not have the unique attributes of
Peregrine Smooth). A very nice paper that competes with Aurora Art
because of its W3-B4 color combination. Like Aurora it needs a contrast
boost to match the proof. Aurora is a bit brighter.

This paper
once had a reputation for very bad flaking problems. However, in
2005 Moab (now Legion) made changes in their production methods and my testing
of a new batch shows it greatly improved in this area. It does
still flake some, so a careful wipe and brushing is
standard procedure.
The new paper is also whiter, having moved from W3 to W2. The ink
color is warmer, moving from B2.5 to B3.5, so it is not quite as cool
toned as the original. Dmax has also improved. Because of
the reduced flaking and better dmax it really is a much better paper
now.

Photo Rag is one of the most
popular and widely used papers. It's Dmax is matched by few
others with Eboni ink, and it produces beautiful rich and glowing prints. Another
advantage is that its density and contrast are nearly the same as EEM.
Most of the time an image can be printed on PR without needing an
adjustment curve, and if one is needed it is usually just a very slight
increase in density to make up for the brightness of the paper, usually
for higher key images. So it's easy to work with and is the reason
I recommend it for beginners in my "How To Get Started" article.
It's drawbacks are high price and above average flaking. I
specifically listed the weight, 308, because the lighter 188 version is
even worse about flaking (one theory is because it is more flexible),
and the percentage of ruined prints is so great as to affect
productivity and offset the gain of the lower price. 308 must be
firmly wiped and brushed (and even then some flaking
occurs).

White Velvet (WV) is made by H.
and is similar in look and feel to Epson's Velvet Fine Art, but with
warmer paper and ink colors. Intense Dmax and rich depth. Has a
greater than average difference between paper color and ink color.
Is a mixture of cotton and alpha cellulose. I haven't used it
enough to comment on flaking.

William Turner is an extremely warm paper,
topping the chart in both ink and paper colors. It has good
contrast and produces a nicely balanced image. But you have to
like texture and you have to like warm. I have heard complaints of
bad flaking but cannot say from my own limited experience.

A very smooth, hard surface paper,
close to PR in Dmax and contrast.
It also has nice depth, much like PR.
It has a slightly cooler W3 paper color.
The hard surface produces very high resolution of fine detail. Surface is extremely fragile while
wet, so it must be hung to dry before doing any
handling. This paper prints very dark, so a lightening curve is
required to match the proof. Is advertised as designed to
emulate fiber silver gelatin paper, and it does have a similar feel,
including a stiff curl.

Another exceptional paper from
Innova, close to PR in Dmax.
It has the depth and richness common to the better papers. While
it has OBAs, the paper and ink colors have the same warmpth of many non
OBA "natural" papers, so I suspect that the OBAs are of small quantity. Like other Innova papers, this paper prints dark, so a
lightening curve is required to match the proof. This is becoming
a very popular paper and a competitor to PR, although it is warmer.

Very much like Smooth Cotton
but with a warmer paper color. Is alpha cellulose with the
feel of a cotton paper. Deeply textured. Like other Innova papers, this paper prints dark, so a
lightening curve is required to match the proof. One of the few
alpha cellulose papers with no OBAs.

Just like Cold Press Art but
with a less pronounced texture. Like other Innova papers, this paper prints dark, so a
lightening curve is required to match the proof.
One of the few alpha cellulose papers with no OBAs.

Premier Art Hot Press is a
beautiful paper that is
preferred by many photographers. With ink color at B5 and paper at W6,
it is at the upper side of the warm range. Even though the ink color is slightly cooler, prints on Hot Press
may appear warmer than on a B6 paper such as WV because of the much warmer midtones and
highlights produced by the W6 paper (WV paper is W4.5). The Dmax is excellent, but
the paper is a bit low in contrast, so a
slight boost
is needed to match an EEM proof. In spite of its warm paper color
and lack of OBAs, this is a very bright paper. Competes with
Condor Natural, but has a little something special, extra sparkle and
depth, which gives it the edge. A very popular paper
among those who like the warm look.

2-sided, Medium hard
surface, one side
medium texture,
one side slight texture

W4.5

B4.5

OBA

Type

Weight

Dmax

No

100% Cotton

250gsm

1.62

Comments

A handsome paper because
of its nicely balanced ink and paper colors, but has very high
contrast which makes the blacks look a bit too blocked up. Requires
an adjustment curve to
lower the contrast and open up the blacks
to match the proof. Is one
of the brightest non-OBA
papers. Being 2-sided is a plus,
allowing a choice of textures and being economical to reuse
work prints.

Similar to Museo II, with
same paper color, slightly more texture,
and considerably warmer ink color. Has very high contrast which
makes the blacks look too
blocked up, and prints dark over all. Requires
an adjustment curve to lower the contrast and
density to match the proof and open up the blacks. Very bright for a non-OBA paper.
With
paper and ink values of 4.5 and 6 it is a very elegant looking paper with
warm blacks and
relatively cooler highlights, which keep it from looking as warm as the B6
would suggest.
Dmax is an excellent 1.65, but the paper is neither "revolutionary" nor "sets the
standard" as the
advertising would have us believe.
In spite of the hype, it is a very beautiful paper with some
exceptional qualities. It is
extremely resistant to scuffing
(possibly the toughest I have tested)
and the blacks do not burnish easily. These are both very welcome
attributes and make it a top
choice for a photo book. They also say it is "flake free". Time will
tell on that matter, all the
usual precautions are recommended. All things considered,
this is a top notch paper and
worthy of consideration.

One of four Hawk Mountain
papers bearing the Merlin name, this is a more traditional looking paper
(does not have the unique attributes of Peregrine Smooth). This is
a nice looking cool tone paper, but simply lacks the Dmax of other
competitors.

This is a nice looking paper,
with slightly warm tone and
it is 2-sided as well.
Unfortunately, with
Dmax similar to Grayhawk1
it
can't hold up against other papers. Other than that this is a good looking
paper.